The Uni-Pin is one of the most widely trusted fine line pens in the world — a Japanese-made drawing pen used by illustrators, architects, designers, urban sketchers, and students who depend on a consistent, reliable line day after day. The coloured range brings all the qualities that have made the black Uni-Pin such a staple to five expressive, well-chosen colours that open up new creative possibilities for anyone who works with fine line as a primary drawing tool.
The ink is a pigment-based Super Ink formulation — water-resistant once dry, fade-resistant with good lightfastness, and quick-drying on paper so that it can be erased over with a pencil rubber or overworked with watercolour and other wet media without smearing or lifting. The steel-reinforced tip is the other defining quality: where unprotected felt tips compress, split, and lose their shape with pressure and repeated use, the steel collar around the Uni-Pin tip maintains its shape and diameter consistently over the life of the pen, making it reliable for technical and detailed work in a way that cheaper fineliners cannot match. The tip is suitable for use directly against rulers and stencils without damage.
We stock the coloured range in two tip sizes — 0.1mm and 0.5mm — in five colours: Orange, Pink, Purple, Green, and Brown. The 0.1mm is the finer of the two, suited to precise detail work, delicate line, and adding colour accents to intricate illustrations. The 0.5mm gives a bolder, more confident line that works well for lettering, expressive sketching, journalling, and colour outline work where a more visible line is the aim. Both sizes use the same Super Ink formulation and the same steel-reinforced tip construction.
Is the ink waterproof? Yes — the pigment-based Super Ink is water-resistant once fully dry, making it suitable for use alongside watercolour, ink wash, and other wet media applied over the top. Allow the ink to dry fully before applying any wet media over it.
Can it be used with rulers and stencils? Yes — the steel-reinforced tip is specifically designed to withstand contact with straight edges and stencils without the tip compressing or splaying, making it reliable for technical and ruled line work.
What is the difference between 0.1mm and 0.5mm? The 0.1mm produces an extremely fine, precise line suited to detailed illustration, intricate linework, and delicate colour accents. The 0.5mm produces a broader, bolder line suited to lettering, expressive sketching, journalling, and outline work where a more visible line is appropriate.
Can it be used over pencil? Yes — the quick-drying ink allows pencil lines to be erased cleanly beneath dried Uni-Pin ink without smearing or lifting the ink. This makes it a practical tool for any working method where pencil under-drawing is inked over and then erased.
Is it lightfast? The Super Ink formulation is fade-resistant with good lightfastness, making it suitable for finished work intended for display. For archival purposes, framing behind UV-protective glass is always recommended for any ink-based work.
